Mainstream News

New technology allows the paralyzed to paint with their brainpower

"A computer programme enabling paralysed patients to create artwork using just the power of their brains drew big crowds on Wednesday at the CeBIT, the world’s top IT fair. Under a system pioneered by Austrian firm g-tec, the user wears a cap that measures brain activity. By focusing hard on a flashing icon on a screen, the cap can recognise the specific brain activity connected to that item, allowing the user to “choose” what he or she wants the computer to do. The artist can select various shapes and colours via brainpower and build up a basic picture on the screen, explained g-tec sales director Markus Bruckner. The user can also draw straight lines." Continue reading →

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Google announces experimental superfast Internet service to be installed in Austin, Texas

"Google announced Tuesday that its experimental superfast Internet service will spread to Austin, the Texas home of a South By Southwest festival beloved by technology trendsetters. Google Fiber should start connecting its so-called gigabit Internet to homes in Austin, the Texas state capital and a hotbed for Internet entrepreneurs, by the middle of next year, said vice president of access services Milo Medin. Google Fiber debuted in Kansas City and in November began providing users there with Internet service that moves data at a blazing gigabyte per second, about 100 times faster than the speed provided by typical broadband connections." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle announces experimental superfast Internet service to be installed in Austin, Texas

Bitcoin Crash Spurs Race to Create New Exchanges

"The rush to build a more reliable exchange for the virtual currency bitcoin is under way after another price crash on Wednesday disgruntled customers who directed their anger against the alternative currency's major exchange. This follows a 20 percent crash last Thursday which Mt.Gox blamed on a type of hacking attack called a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) -- which slows down the website -- delaying orders and panicking sellers. Another DDoS was again reported by the exchange on Thursday morning, coinciding with another price drop." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin Crash Spurs Race to Create New Exchanges

These 12 Banks Got the Fed Minutes a Day Early

"It wasn't just Capitol Hill staffers and trade groups that received the Federal Reserve minutes a day early. Many banks and other financial institutions also got an early look at the minutes. A list of recipients obtained by CNBC reveals that at least 12 banks, a Wall Street law firm, a hedge fund and a private equity fund were on the distribution list that got the minutes early. The banks included Fifth Third, Citigroup, UBS, Barclays, U.S. Bancorp, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, HSBC, BNP Paribas, BB&T, JPMorgan Chase and PNC. Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the most powerful Wall Street law firms, also got the email." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThese 12 Banks Got the Fed Minutes a Day Early

As cities lay off police, frustrated neighborhoods turn to private cops

"After people in Oakland’s wealthy enclaves like Oakmore or Piedmont Pines head to work, security companies take over, cruising the quiet streets to ward off burglars looking to take advantage of unattended homes. Long known for patrolling shopping malls and gated communities, private security firms are beginning to spread into city streets. While private security has long been contracted by homeowners associations and commercial districts, the trend of groups of neighbors pooling money to contract private security for their streets is something new." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs cities lay off police, frustrated neighborhoods turn to private cops

Mexican vigilantes seize town, arrest police

"Hundreds of armed vigilantes have taken control of a town on a major highway in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, arresting local police officers and searching homes after a vigilante leader was killed. Members of the area's self-described 'community police' say more than 1,500 members of the force were stopping traffic Wednesday at improvised checkpoints in the town of Tierra Colorado, which sits on the highway connecting Mexico City to Acapulco. They arrested 12 police and the former director of public security in the town after a leader of the state's vigilante movement was slain on Monday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexican vigilantes seize town, arrest police

Network of satellite guardians in space keep an eye out for natural disasters

"Almost unknown to the public, a constellation of satellite guardians is flying overhead, and all it takes is a phone call for them to intervene when a country is hit by a storm, earthquake, tsunami or flood. Their cooperation comes under an agreement called the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. When catastrophe strikes, an 'authorised user' of the Charter simply phones a number at the European Space Agency (ESA), where space technicians are on round-the-clock duty. One of the 41 authorised users of the Charter is the United Nations, which can activate it on behalf of member states." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNetwork of satellite guardians in space keep an eye out for natural disasters

Police Scan Social Media To Identify Likely Funeral Protesters For Pre-emptive Arrests

"Police officers are monitoring social media, internet forums and BlackBerry messaging networks in the expectation that Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession next Wednesday will be targeted by protesters. The possibility of demonstrations during the funeral has raised concerns that police may adopt the controversial tactic of making pre-emptive arrests. Plans appear to be under way for different groups to demonstrate during the funeral, and to hold celebrations around the country on the same day. Police and security-service planning for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral has been under way for three and a half years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Scan Social Media To Identify Likely Funeral Protesters For Pre-emptive Arrests

Idaho Court of Appeals overturns marijuana DUI conviction

"The Idaho Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's decision upholding a Boise man's conviction for driving under the influence of marijuana. The court ruled last week in the case of Geirrod Stark, who was found guilty in 2010 of driving while impaired. In its ruling, Judge Pro Tem Jesse Walters overturned the conviction, arguing Stark's blood test results only prove he'd used marijuana recently — not the day he was stopped. There's no question Stark was impaired that day Walters said, but there's no proof that drugs — and not some other condition — caused his erratic driving." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIdaho Court of Appeals overturns marijuana DUI conviction

Tennessee Highway Patrol using semi-trucks to combat texting

"The stepped-up enforcement of highway laws came as a new CDC study showed most U.S. drivers reported talking on their cellphone and about one in three read or sent text or email messages when driving. Roberts, who usually steers a motorcycle or standard patrol car in Meigs, McMinn and Rhea counties, is one of 97 troopers statewide who hold a commercial driver's license that allow them to use a semi truck. On Wednesday, Roberts spotted seven people breaking the laws below him. He thought he saw a Volkswagen driver texting, but he wasn't sure; maybe she was just dialing a number." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTennessee Highway Patrol using semi-trucks to combat texting